Συχάρ (Suchar)
Suchar
Sychar
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
Sychar is a proper noun referring to a town in Samaria mentioned only once in the New Testament, specifically in John 4:5. The lexicon sources identify it as an indeclinable place name, likely of Hebrew origin, where the meaning "drunken" has been proposed as a possible etymology, though this remains a scholarly observation rather than a definitive fact.
This location is historically significant because it stands near Jacob’s well, the setting for Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman. While some scholars suggest Sychar may be another name for or closely associated with Shechem, the text simply presents it as a specific destination where Jesus rested during his journey through Samaria.
As a geographical marker, Sychar anchors the narrative in a real place, highlighting the cultural and religious tensions of the region. Its single occurrence underscores the particularity of the encounter at the well, serving as a concrete detail that grounds the theological dialogue in history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Sychar appears in just one verse of the New Testament, yet it marks a turning point in the Gospel of John. Jesus travels through Samaria and stops at this small town near Jacob’s well. The setting is ordinary, but the encounter that follows is extraordinary. Here, Jesus breaks social barriers to speak with a Samaritan woman, offering her living water.
This place name reminds us that God meets people in specific, real locations. Sychar was not a grand city or a religious center; it was a quiet town where daily life continued as usual. Yet, it became the stage for a conversation that changed lives. The detail of the location grounds the story in history, showing that faith is not abstract but lived out in everyday places.
When we read about Sychar, we are invited to see our own towns and neighborhoods as places where God might be working. Just as Jesus rested near Jacob’s well, He meets us in our ordinary moments. This simple reference encourages us to look for opportunities to share hope in the places we already are.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sychar,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Συχάρ,1×
Key Verses
-
John 4:5
So he came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
This verse identifies Sychar as the specific location where Jesus rested near Jacob’s well, setting the stage for His dialogue with the Samaritan woman.